Red Wings' Johan Franzen hopes to keep top scoring pace going

AP PhotoAfter playing mostly on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary in the playoffs, Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen, above, will start this season playing with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom.DETROIT -- The goal-scoring surge Johan Franzen started in March 2008 has placed the Detroit Red Wings forward in elite company.

Franzen has scored 74 goals in his past 126 games, regular season and playoffs. Only two-time NHL Most Valuable Player Alex Ovechkin of Washington has scored more goals (90) in his past 126 games, including the postseason.

With 34 goals last season, Franzen proved he was no one-year wonder who simply caught fire at the end of 2007-08. That is why he earned an 11-year, $43 million contract extension in April.

NHL'S TOP SCORERS

The number of goals scored by the NHL's top snipers in their past 126 games, regular season and playoffs:

• 1. Alex Ovechkin (Washington) -- 90

• 2. Johan Franzen (Detroit) -- 74

• 3. Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta) -- 69

• 3. Marian Gaborik (Rangers) -- 69

• 5. Thomas Vanek (Buffalo) -- 67

• 6. Jeff Carter (Philadelphia) -- 63

• 6. Zach Parise (New Jersey) -- 63

• 8. Marian Hossa (Chicago) -- 62

• 9. Rick Nash (Columbus) -- 61

• 9. Eric Staal (Carolina) -- 61

• 11. Dany Heatley (San Jose) -- 60

• 11. Jarome Iginla (Calgary) -- 60

• 13. Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh) -- 59

• 14. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh) -- 58

• 15. Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit) -- 57

His goal this season is to maintain the pace.

"I want to keep producing the same way, the same level,'' Franzen said. "Of course I want to be better, but I don't put that much pressure on myself. All I can do is work hard and go from there.''

After playing mostly on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary in the playoffs, Franzen will start this season playing with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom.

Because Holmstrom remains the club's main net-front presence, Franzen anticipates a slightly different role, setting up along the boards in the offensive zone.

"I don't know exactly my role, but so far, it looks like I'm not net-front this year,'' Franzen said. "I'm going to have a little more free role on the power play. I have to keep working on my shot and get open, try to bury pucks when I get the chances, because I think I'm going to get a lot of chances.

"I have to work on my passes a little bit as well if I'm going to be the half-wall guy. You want Pavel to be there, but sometimes, I will end up there.''

Franzen began his NHL career as a third-line checker with seemingly modest offensive potential. He scored only 38 goals in his first 229 games, regular season and playoffs. But his size, strength, skills and scoring touch have made him one of the game's premier power forwards.

"He knows now what he can do,'' Cleary said. "He's got confidence. Anytime you got that confidence and ability you can do a lot of good things.

"He's a real big-game player. He can rise to the occasion. I think he's one of the top five power forwards in the game.''

How much better can Franzen get?

"It depends on how hard he wants to work,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "You work real hard, you get to a certain spot. The best of the best, they keep working, and they got so much drive, they keep getting better and better.''